Jim Owczarski on Bucks string of wins and Giannis’ greatness
The Milwaukee Bucks’ recent play appears to show they’ve turned a corner. And where does Giannis rank in NBA history? Jim Owczarski discusses.
The Milwaukee Bucks look to conclude their three-game, five-day road trip in New York City with a winning record as they take on the Brooklyn Nets tonight at the Barclays Center.
Tipoff is set for 6:30 p.m.
The Bucks (22-8) split two games with the Knicks and now take on a short-handed Nets (15-15) team before finishing the road trip in Cleveland on Friday.
The Bucks beat the Nets, 129-125, on the road Nov. 6.
Brooklyn beat Detroit on the road Tuesday night to send the Pistons to an NBA-record 27th straight loss.
The youthful Nets are keeping it close as the Bucks took a 100-92 lead into the fourth quarter. Brooklyn has stayed close thanks to 62 points in the paint. Giannis Antetokounmpo is flirting with a triple-double with 23 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists.
Milwaukee led 66-59 at the break thanks to a 15-point first half by Khris Middleton, who made 7 of his 10 shots. Brooklyn played 12 players and scored 40 points in the paint.
The Bucks took a 32-31 lead after one against the Nets, with Giannis Antetokounmpo scoring seven points and Malik Beasley adding six. The Nets scored 18 points in the paint and made 6 of 7 free throws to hang close.
Bucks hire Trevor Gleeson as assistant coach
During his pregame availability at the Barclays Center, Bucks head coach Adrian Griffin announced that he hired Trevor Gleeson to join the coaching staff. The Bucks had been without an assistant since Terry Stotts unexpectedly resigned just before the start of the regular season.
Gleeson, 55, had worked in Toronto with Griffin under Raptors head coach Nick Nurse the last two seasons. After Nurse was fired, Gleeson was free to seek other coaching jobs. He had returned to Australia while seeking a new coaching position. Prior to arriving in the NBA, Gleeson had won five National Basketball League championships (2014, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020) as head coach of the Perth Wildcats in Australia. After guiding Perth to its sixth finals appearance he moved on to the NBA. He is a two-time NBL coach of the year.
Gleeson has been coaching in some capacity since 1990, including a brief stint stateside in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) and in South Korea.
Griffin said in his pregame press conference that although he has communicated with Gleeson (and that Gleeson has watched Bucks game), he will get in and just be around the team to get to know them initially.
“He’s someone that I trust,” Griffin said. “He has a great mind for the game. But right now I think we’ll just ease him in and let him get acclimated to our team. But he’s strong on both sides of the ball. He’ll definitely start doing some of the scouts as he gets more comfortable.”
Is Giannis playing?
Bucks head coach Adrian Griffin said before the game Antetokounmpo is available to play vs. the Nets. Antetokounmpo had been listed as questionable with right calf injury management. The injury popped up on Tuesday following the Bucks loss to the Knicks on Christmas Day. Antetokounmpo has missed just one game thus far this season and it was due to the right calf, back on Nov. 15.
Antetokounmpo has played in 19 straight games, his longest stretch of consecutive games since playing in 31 straight during the 2020-21 championship season.
Bucks injury report
- Giannis Antetokounmpo, questionable (right calf injury management)
- Jae Crowder, out (left adductor surgery)
Bucks starting lineup
- Guards: Damian Lillard, Malik Beasley
- Forwards: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton
- Center: Brook Lopez
Nets injury report
- Dorian Finney-Smith, questionable (left knee soreness)
- Nic Claxton, out (left ankle sprain injury management)
- Spencer Dinwiddie, out (rest)
- Cam Johnson, out (right knee sprain injury management)
- Lonnie Walker IV, out (left hamstring strain)
- Ben Simmons, out (left lower back never impingement)
Who is playing for the Nets?
Their two best scorers in Cam Thomas (23.5 points per game) and Mikal Bridges (21.6) will be available, along with Royce O’Neale who made 4 three-pointers against the Bucks in their previous meeting. Even if Antetokounmpo cannot play for Milwaukee, the Bucks will have a distinct size advantage with Brook Lopez and Bobby Portis.
